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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be leading Celtic for this weekend's Premiership fixture against Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for almost a week and now seems poised to finalize a contract.

O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six wins in seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought the trip to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act of his second spell in charge.

But, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic in the midweek Premiership match against Dundee before Nancy takes over.

"He's the person that will be coming in," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I believed it was over last weekend, but there remains formalities still to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been unreal," he added. "It's like a part in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee and the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to the top of the Premiership if they win in his opening fixture in charge.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he takes over a side with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results in matches over the past month or so, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the former Irish national team boss and his players then bounced back to claim their first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to De Kuip and win on their patch was terrific. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three games remaining to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he desires to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I'll take a wee think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was apprehension about failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I've learned much. I've got some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, dealing with young players every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Ireland boss stated this is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He must be allowed his own space. If he wants my advice on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the breach."

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

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