Martin O'Neill has confirmed that his interim managerial role at Celtic will conclude after Wednesday's match against Dundee. The announcement comes as Wilfried Nancy is expected to be officially unveiled as the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers within the next 48 hours. Nancy's appointment concludes Celtic's five-week search for a new manager.
O'Neill, a Celtic legend, stepped back into the dugout temporarily following Rodgers' resignation at the end of October. During his four weeks in charge, he oversaw first-team affairs as the club's management sought a permanent replacement. O'Neill's return brought four consecutive league wins, moving the team within two points of league leaders Hearts.
Addressing the media, O'Neill stated, "You will be relieved to know that this is definitely it for tomorrow evening. So, I've been assured of it by the board. The new man will come in. I'm not sure in terms of the process, but I know this is definitely my last game". He added, "A young gentleman's coming in, and it's over to him, but obviously, we've got a big game here tomorrow evening and I'd like to try and win it if we can".
Wilfried Nancy is reportedly set to arrive in Glasgow on Tuesday night and could be in the stands for the Dundee clash. He is expected to make his dugout debut in the top-of-the-table match against Hearts on Sunday. The appointment has been delayed due to paperwork, but these issues are reportedly being finalized. To manage in the UK, Nancy needs an International Sportsperson Visa, requiring a Governing Body Endorsement from the Scottish FA and a Certificate of Sponsorship from Celtic.
O'Neill said his remit was always temporary, regardless of whether it lasted two, five, or six weeks. He expressed satisfaction with his brief return, stating, "I think it's great so it's not a continuation".
Looking ahead, Nancy faces a challenging start with the Hearts match and subsequent fixtures against AS Roma in the Europa League and the Scottish League Cup final against St Mirren.
Despite the impending managerial change, some fans would like to see O'Neill remain with Celtic in a different capacity. Simon Jordan, a talkSPORT pundit, suggested O'Neill would be a good fit for a technical role similar to the Head of Football Operations. O'Neill's experience and "sensible, pragmatic" approach have been praised.
There are reports that Nancy may face an early setback in the transfer market. Celtic's pursuit of Wessam Abou Ali in January may be difficult due to Columbus Crew's reluctance to sell.
