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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be on the Celtic touchline for this weekend's Premiership fixture versus Heart of Midlothian.

The head coach has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and now looks set to complete a contract.

O'Neill has served as interim boss for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six wins in seven games, narrowing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act in his return at the helm.

However, O'Neill stated he will lead the team for Wednesday's league encounter with Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He is the individual that will be arriving," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I thought it was over last weekend, but there remains formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday will assuredly be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part of your life that makes you wonder 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

If the Hoops beat their opponents while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to summit of the table if they win during his first match in charge.

"It's a decent start for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a tough match of course but I wish him well. At the very least he takes over a team with some confidence."

That confidence stems from O'Neill's success in matches over the past month or so, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish manager and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Forest, making it a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win away from home was excellent. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game helped restore belief."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I'll take a little think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is always a big concern. I once joked I could do this job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my advice on things, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It becomes his team the moment he enters the role."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

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