🔗 Share this article

Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be in the Celtic dugout during this weekend's Scottish Premiership clash versus Heart of Midlothian.

The head coach has been involved in advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for almost a week and currently looks set to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for more than a month since the previous manager stepped down, achieving six wins in seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's trip to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act of his return in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he will oversee Celtic in the midweek league encounter with Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He is the person that will be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I thought my time was up last weekend, but there remains formalities yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I delighted that I took the role? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat Dundee and the Jambos defeat Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could lead Celtic to summit of the Premiership if they win during his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a challenging fixture naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a side with some confidence."

The team's morale comes from the positive run during games over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat away to Midtjylland in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We've given ourselves a chance, there are three matches left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for belief."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he would like to continue managing in the future.

"I honestly am unsure," he said. "I'll take a little think about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is always a big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I have had some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in many ways, working with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. If he wants my input on things, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the job."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be ridiculous."