Manage without an intermediary (6)

I believe the answer is:

direct

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

'manage' is the definition.
(I know that direct is a more specific form of the action manage)

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

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for direct that I've seen before include "Moving without changing direction or stopping" , "Following the quickest path without deviation" , "Regulate" , "Control the affairs" , "Creepy-crawly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, The Telegraph and The Irish Independent.

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