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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and now looks set to complete a contract.

O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over a month since the previous manager departed, notching six wins in seven games, cutting into the lead at the top of the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he believed the visit to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act of his return in charge.

However, the interim boss disclosed he will oversee the team in Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the man that will be arriving," O'Neill told the radio station. "I believed it was over last weekend, however there's some formalities yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It's been surreal," he added. "It resembles a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If Celtic beat their opponents and Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to summit of the table if they win during his debut game in charge.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally and I wish him all the best. At least he inherits a team with a bit of confidence."

That confidence is a result of the positive run on the field in the last month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland during European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad then bounced back to achieve a first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to De Kuip and win away from home was terrific. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches remaining to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his reflections during his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration about whether he desires to continue managing in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in several respects, interacting with young players daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. If he wants my input on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his team the moment he steps into the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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