🔗 Share this article

Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout during this weekend's Scottish Premiership match against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been part of detailed discussions with Parkhead side for almost a week and currently seems poised to finalize a deal.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six victories out of seven games, cutting into the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the team to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he believed the match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his return at the helm.

However, the interim boss disclosed he will lead the team in the midweek league encounter against Dens Park prior to Nancy assumes control.

"He is the person that will be arriving," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork yet to be sorted. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been surreal," he added. "It resembles a chapter in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If Celtic defeat Dundee and Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to summit of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"It's a good fixture for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a challenging fixture of course and I wish him all the best. At least he's getting a side with a bit of confidence."

That confidence is a result of the positive run during games in the last month or so, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players were then able to claim a first away win in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks before they defeated Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given ourselves a chance, there are three matches left to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of confidence."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts about whether he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I will have a wee think about things following Wednesday evening."

"It was challenging," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – that is always a big concern. I once joked I could do this job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in several respects, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester, Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. Should he desire my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the role."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional when the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."