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Rotters needing a cool head when there's sad disarray (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cads

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'rotters' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a cool head when there's sad disarray' is the wordplay.
'a cool head when' becomes 'c' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'there's' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'disarray' indicates an anagram.
'sad' anagrammed gives 'ads'.
'c'+'ads'='CADS'

'needing' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cads that I've seen before include "Rotters" , "Knaves" , "'Blackguards, bounders (4)'" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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