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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be leading Celtic during Sunday's Premiership match against Hearts.

The manager has been part of detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost a week and now seems poised to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has served as interim boss for more than four weeks since the previous manager departed, notching six wins out of seven matches, reducing the lead at the top of the league table while also steering the Parkhead outfit to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his return at the helm.

But, O'Neill revealed he will lead Celtic for the midweek league encounter against Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual who will be arriving," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I thought my time was up last weekend, however there remains formalities yet to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"This has been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If Celtic beat their opponents while Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, Nancy could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win in his first match as manager.

"That's a nice one for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a side full of self-belief."

That confidence stems from O'Neill's success in matches in the last month or so, a period where he lost only once – a three-one loss away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish manager and his players were then able to secure a first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration on if he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he continued. "I felt the fear of failing – which is always a big concern. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in several respects, dealing with young players every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Ireland boss says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my advice on matters, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem either. It becomes his team the moment he steps into the breach."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be stupid."