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Exclusive clubs running short start to search hard (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cliquish

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'exclusive' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for cliquish that I've seen before include "Excessively close-knit" , "Like a close-knit and unfriendly group" , "Tending to set" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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