Listeners supporting new approaches (5)
I believe the answer is:
nears
'approaches' is the definition.
(I know this)
'listeners supporting new' is the wordplay.
'listeners' becomes 'ears' (I've seen this in another clue).
'supporting' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, some letters go below others).
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'ears' after 'n' is 'NEARS'.
(Other definitions for nears that I've seen before include "Draws closer to" , "Comes closer" , "Gets closer" , "Draws close" , "is approaching" .)