Suffering due to representing a team with no leader at the outset (6,3)

I believe the answer is:

paying for

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'a team with no leader at the outset' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'suffering due to' is the wordplay.
'suffering due' becomes 'paying' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to' becomes 'for'.
'paying'+'for'='PAYING FOR'

'representing' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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