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As stated by caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

The head coach has been involved in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently looks set to finalize a deal.

O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for more than four weeks since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six wins out of seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he thought the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his second stint in charge.

However, O'Neill stated he will oversee the team in Wednesday's Premiership match against Dundee prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the man who will be taking over," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I thought it was over on Sunday, but there's some paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game will assuredly be my last match."

An Unusual Period

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part in one's life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee while the Jambos see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could guide his new club to the top of the table with a victory during his debut game as manager.

"It's a nice one for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a difficult game of course and I wish him well. At least he's getting a team with some self-belief."

This self-belief is a result of the positive run during games over the past month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to claim their first away win on the continent since 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a few weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three games left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his reflections on his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to carry on in management in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he said. "I'll take a moment to reflect on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It was challenging," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do this job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in many ways, dealing with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the job."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be stupid."