Rabbitohs CEO John Lee has emerged as the frontrunner to take over as the new chief executive officer at their bitter NRL rivals, the Sydney Roosters.

Fairfax Media can reveal Lee has caught the eye of Roosters chairman Nick Politis, who is on the look-out for an experienced administrator to lead the club following the departure of Brian Canavan to the Gold Coast Titans.

It is understood Politis has been impressed with Lee's handling of a number of crises at Redfern, including the prescription drug incident involving Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray and the fallout from Russell Crowe's infamous bonding camp at Nana Glen.

Lee has also been credited as the man who secured the return of Clive Churchill medallist Sam Burgess following his ill-fated rugby stint.