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

The manager has been involved in serious talks with Parkhead side for almost seven days and now seems poised to complete a contract.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over four weeks since the previous manager resigned, notching six victories out of seven matches, reducing the lead at the top in the league table while also steering the club to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he believed the trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

However, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee the team for the midweek league encounter against Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He is the individual who will be arriving," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I believed it was over last weekend, but there remains formalities still to be completed. Wednesday will definitely be my last match."

An Unusual Period

"It's been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It's like a chapter of your life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I've done it? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat their opponents while the Jambos overcome Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his debut game as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally and I wish him well. At least he inherits a side with some self-belief."

This self-belief stems from the positive run during games over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat at Midtjylland during Europa League.

However, the former Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to them," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they mauled Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration about whether he desires to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it has served as a refresh personally in many ways, working with young people every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is really for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that is okay either. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the role."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

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