 Saprang was considered a strong contender to lead the junta given the mandatory retirement of Army commander @-@ in @-@ chief and CNS President Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in September 2007 . He unofficially competed with fellow Assistant Army Commander Anupong Paochinda , who , as 1st Army Area Commander , secured Bangkok on the night of the coup . The Bangkok Post reported in October 2006 that Sonthi was grooming Anupong to be his successor by giving him responsibilities over coup logistics , a greater task than had been assigned to Saprang . The Asia Times quoted a former MP as saying that " Anupong is seen as the real force behind the coup . Saprang is more vocal , but he has no real base . The only way he could be seen as a promising leader is by pushing the country to the brink . " 
 Saprang was considered a strong contender to lead the junta given the mandatory retirement of Army commander @-@ in @-@ chief and CNS President Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in September 2007 . He unofficially competed with fellow Assistant Army Commander Anupong Paochinda , <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a>, as 1st Army Area Commander , secured Bangkok on the night of the coup . The Bangkok Post reported in October 2006 that Sonthi was grooming Anupong to be his successor by giving him responsibilities over coup logistics , a greater task than <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been assigned to Saprang . The Asia Times quoted a former MP as saying that " Anupong is seen as the real force behind the coup . Saprang <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>more vocal , but he <a href='got' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> no real base . The only way he could be seen as a promising leader is by pushing the country to the brink . " 
Saprang was considered a strong contender to lead da junta given tdamandatory retirement of Army commander @-@ in @-@ chief and CNS President Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in September 2007 . He unofficially competed with fellow Assistant Army Commander Anupong Paochinda , , as 1st Army Area Commander , secured Bangkok on thdaight of the coup . The Bangkok Post reported in October 2006 that Sonthi was grooming Anupong to be his successor by giving em responsibilities ova coup logistics , a greater task than done been assigned to Saprang . The Asia Times quoted a former MP as sayin dat " Anupong is seen as the real force behind the coup . Saprang more vocal , but he got no real base . Thedaly way he could be seen as a promising leader is by pushing the country to the brink . "