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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for almost a week and now looks set to wrap up an agreement.

O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for over a month ever since the previous manager resigned, achieving six victories out of seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act of his return at the helm.

But, O'Neill revealed he will oversee the team for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dundee before Nancy takes over.

"He's the individual that will be coming in," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I believed it was over last weekend, but there remains paperwork yet to be completed. Wednesday is certainly my last match."

An Unusual Period

"This has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should the Hoops defeat their opponents and the Jambos overcome Killie on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to summit of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"It's a good fixture for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a challenging fixture of course and good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a side with some confidence."

This self-belief comes from O'Neill's success on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side during Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players then bounced back to claim their first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We have given ourselves a chance, with three games left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam helped restore confidence."

What Comes Next

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

"I honestly am unsure," he said. "I will have a little think on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It was challenging," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

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 the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is okay at all. It becomes his squad the minute he enters the breach."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be silly."