Derby County fans are taking inflatable snakes to the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night as they prepare to reunite with former manager Gary Rowett, according to reports from The Telegraph.

It's the first meeting between the Rams and Rowett since the latter departed for Stoke City in the summer, after spending just over a year at Pride Park - it is believed that the 44-year old left the East Midlands club as half of the club's wage bill would be slashed.

And reports have emerged, that over 3000 Derby fans who will make the short journey down the A50, will be taking inflatable snakes with them in light of Rowett's controversial actions in the summer.

In response to this bizarre development, Rowett said: "I’m quite looking forward to it if I’m being perfectly honest because every second Derby fans sing abusive songs about me is another second or minute they are not singing songs supporting their own team,"

“If they want to bring inflatables, which I’ve heard, it’s going to be really windy."

“So those inflatables could be in danger of blowing away, and secondly I bought shares in a very popular inflatables shop in Derby recently and I’m looking forward to raking in the profits."

Frank Lampard's men have the upper hand going into the fixture however, with the Rams sitting 6th in the Championship table, 7 places above Rowett's Potters, who were tipped as the bookies' favourites to win the league at the start of the season.

Stoke go into the fixture on the back of a five game unbeaten run, whilst Derby make the short journey to Staffordshire hoping to replicate their 2-1 win away at Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

The Verdict

This is quite an outrageous development. Derby fans have every right to be angry with Rowett, but at the end of the day they are arguably succeeding more under Lampard's guidance. Rowett will be praying for a win tonight - Stoke have somewhat turned a corner in recent weeks having gone unbeaten in five games.