According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be leading Celtic for this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Heart of Midlothian.
The manager has been engaged in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost a week and now seems poised to finalize a deal.
Martin O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for over four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, achieving six victories in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the club to League Cup final spot.
The veteran manager, who once coached Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought the visit to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second spell at the helm.
However, O'Neill stated he will manage Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Nancy takes over.
"He is the person who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork still to be sorted. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."
A Bizarre Experience
"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Absolutely."
Should the Hoops beat Dundee and Hearts defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to summit of the table if they win in his first match as manager.
"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match of course but I wish him well. At least he inherits a side with a bit of confidence."
The team's morale stems from the positive run in matches in the last 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 along with his squad then bounced back to achieve 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 by them," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was key for confidence."
Thoughts on the Future
When asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration about whether he would like to carry on in management in the future.
"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a little think about things following Wednesday evening."
"It was challenging," he continued. "There was the fear of failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as many other managers."
"I've learned much. I have had some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, dealing with young players daily."
Consultancy Role?
On the subject of whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is entirely up to Nancy.
"That is solely for the new boss to decide," O'Neill stated. "He should be allowed his own space. If he wants my input on things, that is acceptable. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his squad the minute he steps into the breach."
TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.
"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."
