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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Premiership match against Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in detailed discussions with Parkhead side for nearly a week and now appears ready to finalize a deal.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, securing six wins in seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he expected the visit to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his second spell in charge.

However, O'Neill stated he is to manage Celtic in the midweek league encounter against Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He is the man set to be coming in," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I assumed my time was up on Sunday, but there's some formalities yet to be completed. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops defeat their opponents and Hearts see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could lead his new club to the top of the table with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a team full of self-belief."

This self-belief is a result of the positive run on the field in the last month or so, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat at Midtjylland during Europa League.

However, the ex- Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad were then able to secure their first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a few weeks before they mauled Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and win away from home was fantastic. We have given ourselves a chance, there are three matches left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts about whether he would like to carry on managing going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I'll take a moment to reflect about things following Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a new lease on life personally in several respects, interacting with young players daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland manager says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my advice on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the role."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking if O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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