🔗 Share this article

Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for almost seven days and currently looks set to finalize a contract.

Martin 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 in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had already said he expected the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his return at the helm.

However, O'Neill revealed he will lead Celtic in the midweek league encounter with Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the man who will be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I thought it was over on Sunday, but there remains formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly my final game."

An Unusual Period

"This has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part of your life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I delighted to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If the Hoops beat their opponents while Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could guide his new club to the top of the table if they win during his debut game in charge.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match naturally but I wish him all the best. At least he takes over a team full of confidence."

The team's morale stems from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to Midtjylland during European competition.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players were then able to achieve a first away win in Europe since 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they mauled Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, there are three games left to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts on if he would like to continue in management going forward.

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

"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 this job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some great young coaches alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, working with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is completely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his team the minute he enters the breach."

Presenter Jim White concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be silly."