Shark, clever, cleaned out newspaper boss (8)
I believe the answer is:
creditor
'shark' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'clever cleaned out newspaper boss' is the wordplay.
'cleaned out' suggests removing the centre.
'newspaper boss' becomes 'editor' (newspaper editor).
'clever' with its centre taken out is 'cr'.
'cr'+'editor'='CREDITOR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for creditor that I've seen before include "Moneylender" , "to whom something is due" , "He should be paid" , "Person owed money by director" , "Person to whom money isowed" .)