Newcastle fans can't be bothered with protests against Mike Ashley.

That can be the only conclusion drawn from Saturday's 11th minute walk-in demo.

Ashley should be warned that doesn't mean Tyneside is happy with the miserly way he runs the club.

But efforts to whip up an on-the-ground revolt against the Sport Direct tycoon have failed due to lack of numbers.

It is hard to say accurately how many walked-in after 11 minutes against West Ham on Saturday, just as the away side scored. Around 500. Maybe up to 1,000.

The fans revolt didn't quite happen

But that meant 49,000 were in their seats, and there were precious few noticeable gaps when the game kicked off.

So despite some spirited pre-match demonstrations this season, at best we can say one in 50 Newcastle fans are prepared to take direct action.

Why is this, at a club where mediocrity is now the norm?

Where survival in the top flight is the modest aim, after two decades of challenging at the top and European football.

Benitez saw his side slump to a 3-0 loss at the weekend

Football apathy mirrors life. The vast majority just want to turn up, have a pint, get out of the house on a weekend and see how their team does.

The fury and militancy that is generated in a social media echo chamber like Twitter, is not representative of Joe Public.

It's the same when you go door-knocking for a political party, as I have done in the past for Labour.

You've got hard core activists full of conviction and persuasive arguments.

But even in strong Labour wards you get four out of ten doors where folk don't want to engage. Non-voters, they don't want to talk. Folk who have other stuff to think about.

The fans who organised the walk-in had strong arguments to make.

But those to took part were actually booed in by some fellow fans. Whistles for lads and lasses who only want to find a way of getting something better from Ashley.

Booed for walking in, in some cases, according to reports, by fans who then left their seats early for a half time pie, and cleared off with ten minutes to go because the team was losing.

Next weekend, protest organisers want a full match boycott for the Wolves game.

On current evidence the take up is likely to be weaker. They should call it off.

Newcastle fans watch their side

They'd only be punishing themselves. Their season tickets are already paid for. Ashley won't suffer.

Rafa Benitez would be better off having 1,000 militant fans making a huge amount of noise for his team.

The only real protest that will count is when fans stop renewing their season tickets by the thousand.

History suggests that won't happen. Geordies just like watching football and going to the match, and keeping their grumbles to themselves.

The protesting fans have tried their best.

The only option now is to pray Rafa Benitez can build a relationship with Mike Ashley and persuade him that ambition is better than ambivalence.