The Dumfries outfit host title favourites Arbroath in League One this weekend and McLinden, right, believes filling up the ground and creating an atmosphere can make a difference.
Queens have hit a speed bump in the league after an unbeaten January. But with 12 games remaining, McLinden says it’s time to all come together for one final push.
He said: “With six home games left and six away games left, I really need to see the 12th man from Dumfries helping us out.
“We need all the help we can get to try and get across the line. Now is the time to come together.
“Everybody wants the same thing, we’re driving this from inside the club.
“Everyone from the directors, management team, to the players, to the volunteers who turn up on the Saturdays to make the games possible and everyone else behind the scenes, all want us to get us to the Championship.
“But we need the 12th man to come along and help us.
“If we’re going to win the title then we need to be looking at every game as a must-win. Somebody needs to go and put their stamp on the division and break away from this trend of everyone beating each other and say we’re going for it now.
“I don’t want to be looking back at the end of the season and talking to people saying that I wish we could’ve just got more people through the gate and had more support.”
And McLinden is eager to meet with supporters who generate atmosphere at Palmerston Park that haven’t been back much this season other than for the derbies and the St Mirren cup tie.
He added: “The message from the club is that we’d love to have them back and they are very welcomed.
“They can be an asset for us as they stirred up the atmosphere and got the crowd going at the cup game against St Mirren and were great against Annan too.
“I thought they were absolutely fantastic and I’d love to see them back every week.
“If there’s anything I can do personally then I’m happy to meet them and talk about how we can accommodate them.”
McLinden also hailed the near-300 travelling supporters at last week’s 2-1 loss at league leaders Stenhousemuir.
He said: “I was delighted when I sat in the stand and looked over to the left and saw the backing at Stenhousemuir.
“I was pleased not only in the numbers but they were singing and enjoying themselves.
“I was gutted that we couldn’t give them the victory. When you look at the stats and the game, we should’ve been winning that against top of the league.
“That kind of says where we are but football is a results business.
“I still believe in the project and I still believe in the squad.
“I think we’ll get back on another run of form. The league is so tight and everyone is beating each other. It just takes one team to string a few results together and all of a sudden you’re top.”
Queens host Arbroath at Palmerston on Saturday with a 3 pm kick off.
Next week Jim talks about what’s happening off the field at Palmerston
