Crossword Genius

Break-up of past senior talks down to sponsors (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patronises

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'sponsors' is the definition.
(I know this)

'break-up of past senior' is the wordplay.
'break up of' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'breaking up' mean this).
'past'+'senior'='pastsenior'
'pastsenior' with letters rearranged gives 'PATRONISES'.

'talks down to' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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