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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Premiership clash against Hearts.

The head coach has been engaged in advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for almost a week and now looks set to wrap up a contract.

O'Neill has served as caretaker manager for over four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six wins in seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of the club between 2000 and 2005, had already said he thought the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second stint at the helm.

But, the interim boss disclosed he is to lead the team in Wednesday's Premiership match with Dens Park before Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, but there remains paperwork still to be completed. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Most certainly."

Should the Hoops defeat Dundee and Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win during his debut game in charge.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It will be a difficult game naturally but good luck to him. At least he's getting a team with a bit of self-belief."

The team's morale is a result of O'Neill's success during games over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to claim a first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We have given ourselves a chance, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections during his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on in management in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a wee think about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt apprehension about failing – that is always a major worry. I once joked I could do this job just as poorly as many other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent young coaches working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in many ways, interacting with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss stated this is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my input on things, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his squad the minute he steps into the breach."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."