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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout for Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts.

The head coach has been part of serious talks with the Parkhead side for nearly seven days and now appears ready to finalize an agreement.

O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, achieving six victories out of seven games, narrowing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to a League Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he expected Sunday's match at Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his second spell at the helm.

But, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic in the midweek league encounter against Dens Park before Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the individual who will be taking over," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I believed it was over on Sunday, but there remains paperwork still to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly my final game."

A Surreal Spell

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

If Celtic beat Dundee while the Jambos defeat Killie on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win during his first match in charge.

"That's a decent start for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a challenging fixture naturally and I wish him all the best. At least he takes over a team full of self-belief."

The team's morale stems from O'Neill's success during games in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss at the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish national team boss and his players were then able to secure their first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and win away from home was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of belief."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he desires to carry on managing in the future.

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

"It was challenging," he continued. "I felt the fear of failing – that is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I have had some excellent coaching staff working with me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, working with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on things, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem either. It becomes his squad the minute he steps into the breach."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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