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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be leading Celtic during Sunday's Premiership match against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been part of detailed discussions with Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers resigned, notching six victories in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 to 2005, had already said he believed Sunday's match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his return in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee the team in Wednesday's Premiership match against Dundee prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the person that will be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there's some paperwork still to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my last match."

A Bizarre Experience

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It feels like a part in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat Dundee and the Jambos see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide Celtic to summit of the Premiership if they win in his opening fixture in charge.

"That's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course and I wish him well. At the very least he's getting a side full of self-belief."

The team's morale comes from the interim manager's results during games over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland during European competition.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to achieve a first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We have given ourselves an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

What Comes Next

When asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts on if he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a little think on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – that is always a major worry. I used to boast I could do this job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned much. I've got some great coaching staff working with me and it has served as a refresh for me in many ways, interacting with young players daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. Should he desire my opinion on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his squad the minute he enters the job."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

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