🔗 Share this article

According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be leading Celtic during this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for almost seven days and currently seems poised to finalize an agreement.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for over a month ever since the previous manager resigned, securing six wins in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected the match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his second stint in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to lead the team for the midweek Premiership match with Dundee before Nancy assumes control.

"He's the person who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought it was over last weekend, however there's some paperwork yet to be completed. Wednesday is certainly my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a part in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

If the Hoops beat their opponents while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory in his first match in charge.

"It's a nice one for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a team with a bit of self-belief."

That confidence is a result of the interim manager's results in matches in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side during Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to secure their first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We've given the team a chance, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

Future Ambitions

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

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I will have a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "There was the fear of failing – which is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it's been a new lease on life personally in several respects, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my opinion on things, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the role."

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

"Are you asking am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."