'I have had the time of my life' - Martin O'Neill signs off with win as Nancy takes over at Celtic

SO LONG: Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill waves goodbye to the fans. Pic: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.

Martin O'Neill closed the gap on William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts as he delivered one final victory for Celtic.

Daizen Maeda's brave 11th-minute header proved enough to hand O'Neill a 1-0 victory over Dundee in his farewell match before making way for Wilfried Nancy, whose appointment was confirmed less than an hour before kick-off.

Nancy arrives following a protracted move from Columbus Crew, where he won the MLS Cup.

The Frenchman described his appointment as a "massive honour" and thanked O'Neill and Shaun Maloney for their "fantastic" work in interim charge.

"Now it's up to me to carry on this great work and carry our great club forward and I can't wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution," he added on the club's official website.

"Celtic is one of the world's proper football clubs, real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for."

It was O'Neill's seventh win in eight matches since returning to Celtic Park 20 years after his initial spell in charge ended.

Speaking to fans on the Celtic Park pitch following the final whistle, O'Neill said: "These players have been absolutely fantastic and that's why they are champions. It's been a privilege to work with them and I have had the time of my life in the past five or six weeks."

When asked if he had a final message for the Celtic supporters, O'Neill said: "The Celtic supporters? They just need reminding that they are the best in the world."

Celtic were eight points adrift of Hearts when O'Neill and Maloney were placed in interim charge in the wake of Brendan Rodgers' sudden exit in late October.

The 73-year-old leaves with Celtic now trailing the league leaders on goal difference with a game in hand.

O'Neill's players could have given their manager a less stressful swansong but could not build on their flying start and Dundee caused some nervy moments for the home support.

That included a sparsely-filled standing section with the bottom six rows blocked off following the extended and indefinite ban handed to the Green Brigade on Tuesday.

Anti-board chants rang out along with tributes to O'Neill in a reminder that Nancy inherits a disunited club despite the platform to challenge in the league and Europa League, as well as a Premier Sports Cup final to look forward to in his third match. His first two come against Hearts and Roma.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Donovan (Ralston 81), Trusty, Scales, Saracchi (Tierney 44), Engels, McGregor, Hatate (Bernardo 81), McCowan (Nygren 81), Maeda, Yang (Tounekti 58).

Dundee: McCracken, Wright, Graham, Clark Robertson (Astley 41), Samuels, Congreve (Koumetio 58), Dhanda (Jones 58), Hamilton, Westley (Yogane 74), Finlay Robertson, Murray (Hay 58).

Referee: Duncan Nicolson (Scotland).