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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Premiership clash versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost a week and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for more than four weeks ever since the previous manager stepped down, securing six wins out of seven games, reducing Hearts' lead of the league table and guiding the team to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 and 2005, had already said he thought Sunday's match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his second stint in charge.

However, O'Neill revealed he is to lead the team in the midweek league encounter with Dens Park prior to Nancy takes over.

"He is the individual who will be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork still to be dealt with. Wednesday is certainly the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"It has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a chapter of your life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I delighted to have taken it on? Without a doubt."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee and Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win during his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a nice one for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a difficult game naturally but I wish him well. At the very least he takes over a team full of self-belief."

That confidence comes from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side during Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to achieve a first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To go to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore confidence."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he would like to carry on in management going forward.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is always a major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I have learned much. I have had some great young coaches working with me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in several respects, working with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It becomes his team the minute he enters the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be stupid."