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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic for Sunday's Premiership clash versus Hearts.

The manager has been part of detailed discussions with Parkhead side for nearly a week and now seems poised to finalize a contract.

O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, achieving six victories in seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead of the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 to 2005, had already said he believed Sunday's match at Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be the last game of his second spell in charge.

However, the interim boss disclosed he is to lead Celtic for the midweek league encounter against Dundee prior to Nancy takes over.

"He's the man who will be coming in," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I assumed it was over on Sunday, but there remains formalities still to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Bizarre Experience

"It has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could guide his new club to summit of the table with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a difficult game naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a team with some confidence."

This self-belief stems from O'Neill's success on the field in the last month or so, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side during European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad then bounced back to claim a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games remaining to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration on if he would like to carry on in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything following Wednesday evening."

"It was challenging," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – which is always a big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

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

Consultancy Role?

Regarding if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem either. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental once the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be stupid."