Gutted - one sector struggling? This should stop the rot (8)
I believe the answer is:
creosote
'this should stop the rot' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'gutted one sector struggling?' is the wordplay.
'gutted' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'struggling?' indicates anagramming the letters (the letters struggle or wriggle into a new form).
'one' with its middle taken out is 'oe'.
'oe'+'sector'='oesector'
'oesector' anagrammed gives 'CREOSOTE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for creosote that I've seen before include "Fencing gear, perhaps" , "Wood preservative oil" , "Preservative liquid obtained from coal tar" , "Oily liquid for preserving timber" , "Wood treatment" .)