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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic during this weekend's Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been part of detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently looks set to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for more than a month ever since the previous manager stepped down, achieving six wins in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead of the league table and guiding the team to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he expected the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game in his second spell at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to lead Celtic for the midweek Premiership match with Dundee prior to Nancy assumes control.

"He's the person set to be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed it was over on Sunday, but there's some formalities yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter of your life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win in his opening fixture in charge.

"That's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course but I wish him well. At the very least he's getting a side with a bit of self-belief."

That confidence is a result of O'Neill's success on the field over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad subsequently managed to claim a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and win on their patch was fantastic. We have given the team an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts during his spell as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to carry on managing in the future.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything after Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it's been a new lease on life for me in several respects, working with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is completely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to make," O'Neill stated. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my opinion on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be ridiculous."