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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership clash versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been involved in serious talks with Glasgow club for nearly a week and currently appears ready to finalize a deal.

Martin O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six wins in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the league table while also steering the club to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he expected Sunday's visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second stint in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to oversee Celtic in Wednesday's league encounter against Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the man who will be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there's some paperwork still to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Absolutely."

Should Celtic beat their opponents and the Jambos see off Kilmarnock in midweek, Nancy could guide Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his debut game in charge.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally and I wish him well. At least he's getting a team with a bit of confidence."

That confidence comes from the positive run during games over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a three-one loss away to the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the former Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first away win in Europe since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks before they mauled Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and win away from home was fantastic. We've given ourselves a chance, there are three games remaining to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I'll take a little think about things following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt the fear of 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 gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some great coaching staff working with me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in several respects, dealing 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, Aston Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Nancy.

"That decision is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday.

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