Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be in the Celtic dugout for Sunday's Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.
Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for almost a week and currently seems poised to wrap up a deal.
O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for more than four weeks since the previous manager stepped down, notching six wins out of seven matches, cutting into the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to Premier Sports Cup final spot.
The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club from 2000 to 2005, had already said he expected Sunday's visit to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be the last game of his return at the helm.
However, O'Neill stated he will oversee the team for Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee prior to Nancy assumes control.
"He is the person set to be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some formalities still to be completed. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."
A Surreal Spell
"It has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I delighted to have taken it on? Without a doubt."
Should the Hoops defeat their opponents and Hearts defeat Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead his new club to summit of the table with a victory during his first match in charge.
"That's a decent start for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match naturally and good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a side with a bit of self-belief."
The team's morale stems from the positive run on the field in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss away to Midtjylland during Europa League.
However, the ex- Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad then bounced back to secure a first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.
Restoration of Confidence
"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We've given the team a chance, with three matches remaining to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game helped restore confidence."
What Comes Next
When asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.
"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect on everything following Wednesday evening."
"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast I could do this job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."
"I've learned much. I've got some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a refresh personally in many ways, dealing with young players daily."
A Potential Advisory Position?
Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is entirely up to Nancy.
"That is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given full autonomy. Should he desire my opinion on things, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his team the moment he steps into the breach."
Presenter the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the final whistle blew on Wednesday.
"Are you asking am I going to cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be silly."
