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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in serious talks with Glasgow club for almost a week and now seems poised to wrap up an agreement.

O'Neill has served as caretaker manager for over four weeks since the previous manager resigned, securing six wins in seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the club to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he expected Sunday's visit to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be the last game of his second spell at the helm.

However, O'Neill stated he will oversee Celtic for the midweek league encounter against Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the man that will be coming in," O'Neill told the radio station. "I believed it was over on Sunday, but there's some formalities still to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"It has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a part in one's life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic defeat their opponents and Hearts defeat Killie on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the table with a victory during his debut game in charge.

"That's a good fixture for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a tough match of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a team with some self-belief."

The team's morale comes from O'Neill's success on the field over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side during European competition.

Nevertheless, the former Irish manager along with his squad then bounced back to claim their first away win in Europe since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they defeated Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We have given the team an opportunity, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was key for belief."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections during his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts about whether he would like to carry on in management going forward.

"I honestly am unsure," he said. "I'll take a moment to reflect on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is always a major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I've learned much. I have had some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it's been a new lease on life for me in many ways, interacting with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the breach."

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

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