🔗 Share this article

According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline for Sunday's Premiership clash against Hearts.

The head coach has been involved in serious talks with Parkhead side for nearly seven days and now appears ready to wrap up an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for over a month since Brendan Rodgers resigned, securing six wins out of seven games, narrowing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he expected Sunday's visit to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act of his second stint in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee Celtic in Wednesday's Premiership match with Dens Park before Nancy takes over.

"He's the individual set to be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed it was over on Sunday, but there's some formalities yet to be sorted. The Dundee game will assuredly be my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a chapter of your life that makes you wonder 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should Celtic beat Dundee while the Jambos see off Killie in midweek, Nancy could potentially take Celtic to the top of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"It's a decent start for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match of course but I wish him well. At least he inherits a team with some confidence."

The team's morale comes from O'Neill's success on the field in the last five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss away to Midtjylland in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish manager and his players were then able to claim their first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost to them," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To go to De Kuip and win away from home was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game helped restore confidence."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on in management going forward.

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

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned much. I have had some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a refresh for me in many ways, working with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be stupid."