Crossword Genius

Company should pull back if they show fear (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coward

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'they show fear' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'company should pull back' is the wordplay.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'should pull back' becomes 'ward' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'co'+'ward'='COWARD'

'if' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for coward that I've seen before include "whose encounter was briefly filmed" , "Person without courage" , "One lacks courage" , "Noel . . . . . ., English playwright and actor" , "Noel ......, composer of ''Bitter Sweet''" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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