🔗 Share this article

According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic for Sunday's Premiership fixture versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been involved in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly a week and now seems poised to wrap up a contract.

O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over four weeks ever since the previous manager departed, securing six victories out of seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who once coached Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he expected the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his second stint at the helm.

However, O'Neill revealed he will oversee Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter with Dens Park before Nancy takes over.

"He's the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed it was over last weekend, but there's some paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

An Unusual Period

"This has been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

If Celtic beat Dundee while the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to the top of the table if they win in his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It will be a difficult game of course and I wish him all the best. At least he's getting a team with some self-belief."

That confidence comes from O'Neill's success in matches in the last month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat away to Midtjylland during European competition.

However, the former Irish national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to claim a first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given the team a chance, with three matches left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to continue in management going forward.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect about things following Wednesday evening."

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

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in several respects, dealing with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss stated this is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my advice on matters, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be silly."