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As stated by caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in serious talks with Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently seems poised to wrap up a deal.

O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six victories out of seven games, narrowing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the team to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he expected the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

But, O'Neill revealed he will lead the team for the midweek league encounter with Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed it was over on Sunday, however there remains formalities still to be sorted. The Dundee game is certainly the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It's like a part in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Most certainly."

Should Celtic beat their opponents while Hearts see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide his new club to the top of the table if they win during his first match in charge.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally and I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a side with a bit of self-belief."

That confidence is a result of the positive run in matches over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish manager and his players then bounced back to claim their first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks before they thrashed Forest, making it difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections during his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to continue managing going forward.

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

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – which is always a major worry. 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 great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in several respects, interacting with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain at Celtic as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. If he wants my input on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem either. It's very much his squad the minute he steps into the breach."

TalkSport host 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 get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."