Impact loan midfielders Mallace, Ubiparapovic to USL club Minnesota United

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact have loaned midfielders Sinisa Ubiparapovic and Calum Mallace to Minnesota United of the United Soccer Leagues.

The move is pending approval of their international transfer certificates.

Sporting director Nick De Santis said the players would get more playing time in Minnesota than in Montreal, where the Impact have depth at midfield.

He said the team would also look at adding one or two players to boost the team for the second half of the Major League Soccer campaign and the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Team president Joey Saputo said he was pleased with the team’s performance thus far. The Impact are in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 9-5-4 record.

Saputo will consider giving coach Marco Schallibaum a contract extension. The Swiss coach joined the club this season on a done-year deal.

He also said that a heating system would be installed for the field at Saputo Stadium to keep it in good shape and snow-free during the MLS playoffs and Champions League matches in the fall.

And Saputo said he hopes to boost season ticket sales from 8,000 to more than 10,000 for next season. Season ticket holders will be now be considered members of the club and will be consulted on decisions the team makes.