Crossword Genius

Football club leaving a learner in charge? This may be fatal (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arsenic

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

'football club' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'a learner in charge? this may be fatal' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
'in charge?' could be 'ic' (abbreviation for 'in charge') and 'ic' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'leaving' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arsenic that I've seen before include "-- and Old Lace (play)" , "Element No 33" , "killer" , "Poison found in races" , "Powerful poison" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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