Crossword Genius

Experts to keep on retaining old fools (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

buffoons

'fools' is the definition.
(buffoon is a kind of fool)

'experts to keep on retaining old' is the wordplay.
'experts' becomes 'buffs' (I've seen this before).
'to keep' is an insertion indicator.
'retaining' indicates putting letters inside.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'on' enclosing 'o' is 'oon'.
'buffs' going around 'oon' is 'BUFFOONS'.

(Other definitions for buffoons that I've seen before include "Clowns or dolts" , "Rude or vulgar fools" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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