Crossword Genius

Lately, three cardinals left the centre of Croydon (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

newly

'lately' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'three cardinals left the centre of croydon' is the wordplay.
'three cardinals' becomes 'NEW' (abbreviations for three cardinal directions).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'the centre of' indicates the central letters.
The middle of 'croydon' is 'y'.
'new'+'l'+'y'='NEWLY'

(Another definition for newly that I've seen is " Freshly, very recently".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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