🔗 Share this article

Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian.

The head coach has been part of advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for nearly a week and now looks set to complete a deal.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for over four weeks since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six wins in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he expected the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act of his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to lead Celtic for the midweek league encounter with Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He's the person set to be arriving," O'Neill told the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, however there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game will assuredly be my last match."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a part in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Absolutely."

If the Hoops defeat their opponents and the Jambos see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to summit of the table if they win in his first match as manager.

"That's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course and I wish him all the best. At the very least he's getting a team full of self-belief."

The team's morale comes from O'Neill's success on the field in the last month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the former Irish manager and his players then bounced back to secure a first away win in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, making it a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was excellent. We have given ourselves a chance, with three matches left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of belief."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was the fear of failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast I could do the job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I have had some great young coaches working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration for me in many ways, working with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. If he wants my input on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the moment he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental once the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

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