According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic during this weekend's Premiership clash against Hearts.
Columbus Crew's head coach has been involved in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for almost seven days and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.
Martin O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for more than a month since the previous manager departed, achieving six wins out of seven games, reducing the lead at the top in the league table while also steering the club to a League Cup final spot.
The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he thought Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game in his second stint at the helm.
However, O'Neill revealed he will manage the team for Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Wilfried Nancy takes over.
"He's the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I believed it was over on Sunday, but there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."
An Unusual Period
"This has been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part of your life that makes you wonder 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Absolutely."
Should the Hoops defeat Dundee while Hearts overcome Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.
"It's a good fixture for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a challenging fixture naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he's getting a team full of self-belief."
This self-belief comes from O'Neill's success on the field in the last five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat at Midtjylland in the Europa League.
However, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss and his players were then able to claim a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.
Restoration of Confidence
"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We have given ourselves a chance, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."
Future Ambitions
When asked for his reflections on his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to continue in management in the future.
"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I will have a moment to reflect about things following the match on Wednesday."
"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt a fear of failure – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."
"I have learned much. I have had some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration for me in many ways, interacting with young people every day."
A Potential Advisory Position?
On the subject of whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.
"That is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my advice 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 breach."
TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.
"Are you asking am I going to cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be silly."
