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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be on the Celtic touchline for this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently looks set to finalize a contract.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for over a month ever since the previous manager resigned, achieving six wins out of seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he believed the visit to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act in his return in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he is to manage the team in Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee before Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the person that will be arriving," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If Celtic beat their opponents and Hearts overcome Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his debut game as manager.

"It's a nice one for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a difficult game of course and I wish him well. At least he's getting a team with a bit of confidence."

This self-belief comes from the positive run in matches over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players subsequently managed to achieve a first away win on the continent since 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost by them," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To travel to De Kuip and win away from home was terrific. We have given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts during his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to consideration about whether he would like to carry on in management going forward.

"I honestly am unsure," he said. "I'll take a little think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is always a big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly 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 refresh personally in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is solely for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his squad the moment he steps into the job."

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

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."