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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Premiership clash versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been involved in serious talks with the Parkhead side for almost seven days and now appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, securing six wins in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he thought Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second stint in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee Celtic in the midweek league encounter against Dundee prior to Nancy takes over.

"He's the man who will be coming in," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I assumed it was over last weekend, but there's some paperwork still to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly my last match."

An Unusual Period

"It's been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It's like a chapter of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic beat Dundee and the Jambos see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a team full of confidence."

The team's morale comes from O'Neill's success during games in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss at Midtjylland during European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad were then able to achieve a first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost by them," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a few weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We have given the team an opportunity, there are three games remaining to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

What Comes Next

When asked for his thoughts on his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I'll take a moment to reflect about things following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some great coaching staff working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, interacting with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. If he wants my opinion on matters, that's fine. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the job."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Are you asking am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be silly."