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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been involved in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for almost a week and currently looks set to finalize a contract.

O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for over four weeks since Brendan Rodgers departed, securing six victories out of seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the league table while also steering the club to League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act in his second spell at the helm.

But, O'Neill revealed he will manage the team for Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual who will be arriving," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I believed it was over last weekend, however there's some paperwork still to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been like a dream," he added. "It's like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I delighted that I took the role? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops defeat Dundee while the Jambos overcome Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to summit of the Premiership if they win during his first match as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a side full of confidence."

The team's morale comes from O'Neill's success on the field in the last month or so, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players then bounced back to achieve their first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks before they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to De Kuip and win away from home was fantastic. We've given the team a chance, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of belief."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections on his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts on if he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a moment to reflect about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast I could do this job just as poorly as many other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it has served as a new lease on life for me in many ways, working with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his squad the moment he steps into the role."

Presenter Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."