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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been part of advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently seems poised to wrap up an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as temporary gaffer for over four weeks since the previous manager departed, securing six wins in seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he will lead the team in the midweek Premiership match against Dundee before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the individual that will be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It feels 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? Most certainly."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee and the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could lead his new club to the top of the table with a victory during his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match of course and I wish him well. At least he takes over a side with a bit of confidence."

This self-belief is a result of the interim manager's results on the field over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat away to Midtjylland during Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish national team boss along with his squad were then able to claim their first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks earlier they defeated Forest, making it difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We've given the team a chance, there are three games left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his time as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he would like to continue managing in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a wee think on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, dealing with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for Nancy to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my advice on things, that's fine. If not, that is okay at all. It becomes his team the minute he enters the breach."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional when the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."