Nancy Is Set to Lead for the Glasgow Giants This Week - O'Neill

According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be leading Celtic for this weekend's Premiership fixture against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for almost seven days and now looks set to wrap up an agreement.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, achieving six victories in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who once coached the club from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he believed the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act of his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic in Wednesday's league encounter against Dens Park before Nancy takes over.

"He's the person set to be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I thought it was over last weekend, but there's some formalities still to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should Celtic beat Dundee and the Jambos defeat Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead Celtic to the top of the table with a victory during his debut game as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a difficult game naturally but good luck to him. At least he's getting a side full of confidence."

That confidence comes from the interim manager's results in matches in the last five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the ex- Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to claim a first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks earlier they mauled Forest, making it difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and win on their patch was fantastic. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three games left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – which is always a big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration for me in many ways, dealing with young players every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my opinion on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem either. It's very much his squad the minute he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday.

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