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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be on the Celtic touchline for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for nearly a week and currently looks set to finalize a deal.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, securing six victories in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the club to a League Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of the club from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he believed the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act of his second stint in charge.

However, O'Neill stated he is to lead Celtic in the midweek Premiership match with Dundee prior to Nancy takes over.

"He is the man that will be coming in," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, but there's some formalities still to be sorted. The Dundee game is certainly the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If Celtic beat Dundee and the Jambos overcome Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to the top of the table if they win during his first match in charge.

"It's a good fixture for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a difficult game of course and good luck to him. At least he inherits a team with a bit of self-belief."

The team's morale stems from the interim manager's results during games in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland during European competition.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to claim a first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was fantastic. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three games left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections on his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he said. "I'll take a wee think about things after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – that is always a big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I have had some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a refresh personally in many ways, interacting with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Ireland boss stated this is entirely up to Nancy.

"That decision is solely for Nancy to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on matters, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the role."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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