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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be leading Celtic during this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been engaged in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for nearly a week and now seems poised to finalize an agreement.

O'Neill has been acting as temporary gaffer for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six victories in seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup final spot.

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

But, O'Neill revealed he is to lead Celtic for Wednesday's Premiership match against Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He's the person who will be arriving," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, however there's some paperwork still to be dealt with. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Most certainly."

Should the Hoops defeat their opponents while Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to summit of the table if they win in his first match as manager.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It will be a challenging fixture of course and good luck to him. At the very least he takes over a team with a bit of confidence."

This self-belief comes from the positive run in matches in the last month or so, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the former Irish manager and his players then bounced back to secure a first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We've given ourselves a chance, with three games remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts about whether he desires to continue managing going forward.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a little think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was the fear of failing – which is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it's been a refresh for me in several respects, dealing with young people every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the role."

Presenter Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional when the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

"Are you asking if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be silly."