Area supporting crazy ideas introduced earlier (9)

I believe the answer is:

aforesaid

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'earlier' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'area supporting crazy ideas' is the wordplay.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'supporting' becomes 'for' (being for something means supporting it).
'crazy' indicates an anagram.
'ideas' anagrammed gives 'esaid'.
'a'+'for'+'esaid'='AFORESAID'

'introduced' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aforesaid that I've seen before include "The one previously mentioned" , "previously referred to" , "earlier" , "Above-mentioned" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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