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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be leading Celtic for this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for more than a month since the previous manager departed, achieving six victories out of seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the team to a League Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of the club between 2000 and 2005, had already said he believed Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act of his second spell at the helm.

However, the interim boss disclosed he is to lead the team in the midweek Premiership match against Dens Park prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the person that will be arriving," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I thought it was over on Sunday, however there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"This has been surreal," he added. "It resembles a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat their opponents while the Jambos defeat Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead his new club to the top of the table if they win during his first match as manager.

"It's a decent start for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a challenging fixture of course and good luck to him. At least he inherits a team with some self-belief."

The team's morale stems from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish manager and his players were then able to claim a first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win away from home was excellent. We've given ourselves a chance, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections during his spell as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to consideration on if he desires to continue managing going forward.

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

"It was challenging," he added. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I have had some great young coaches alongside me and it has served as a refresh personally in several respects, interacting with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss stated this is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my input on things, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is okay either. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the breach."

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

"Are you asking am I going to cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be stupid."