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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Premiership fixture against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for almost a week and currently appears ready to wrap up a contract.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for over a month since the previous manager resigned, securing six wins in seven matches, cutting into the lead at the top in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had already said he thought Sunday's visit to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game in his return at the helm.

However, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic in the midweek league encounter with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the person who will be coming in," O'Neill told the radio station. "I believed it was over on Sunday, however there's some formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I've done it? Most certainly."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee and Hearts see off Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win during his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a decent start for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a difficult game of course but I wish him well. At the very least he inherits a team with some confidence."

This self-belief is a result of O'Neill's success on the field over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a three-one loss away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish national team boss and his players were then able to secure a first away win in Europe since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Forest, making it difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three games remaining to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to consideration about whether he desires to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a little think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – 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 managers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a new lease on life for me in many ways, working with young people every day."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss stated this is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that is okay either. It becomes his team the moment he enters the job."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."