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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for almost a week and now looks set to finalize an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over a month since the previous manager departed, securing six victories out of seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act in his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to oversee the team for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He is the man that will be coming in," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I thought it was over on Sunday, however there remains paperwork yet to be sorted. Wednesday is certainly my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It's like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should the Hoops defeat Dundee and Hearts see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win during his debut game as manager.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but I wish him well. At the very least he takes over a team with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale comes from the interim manager's results in matches over the past month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss at the Danish side during European competition.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad then bounced back to achieve a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches left to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

When asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration on if he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a little think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – which is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast I could do this job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned much. I have had some excellent young coaches alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in several respects, working with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is solely for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. Should he desire my opinion on things, that's fine. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the job."

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

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be silly."