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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be leading Celtic for this weekend's Scottish Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.

The head coach has been involved in serious talks with the Glasgow club for nearly a week and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over four weeks since the previous manager resigned, notching six wins in seven matches, reducing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the team to League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his second spell at the helm.

However, the interim boss disclosed he is to lead Celtic for Wednesday's Premiership match against Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He's the man who will be taking over," O'Neill told the radio station. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"It has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It's like a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic beat Dundee while the Jambos see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could potentially take his new club to summit of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"That's a good fixture for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally but I wish him well. At the very least he takes over a side with some confidence."

That confidence stems from O'Neill's success in matches in the last five weeks, where he has lost only once – a three-one loss away to the Danish side during European competition.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players then bounced back to achieve a first away win in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost by them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, making it difficult. To travel to De Kuip and win away from home was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game helped restore belief."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a little think about things following the match on Wednesday."

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

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in several respects, dealing with young players every day."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem either. It's very much his squad the minute he enters the job."

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

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be silly."