Virtuous person funding play since regulars dropped out (7)
I believe the answer is:
angelic
'virtuous' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'person funding play since regulars dropped out' is the wordplay.
'person funding play' becomes 'angel'.
'regulars dropped out' indicates alternate letters.
The alternate letters of 'since' are 'ic'.
'angel'+'ic'='ANGELIC'
(Other definitions for angelic that I've seen before include "Virtuous" , "Sweet, kind and beautiful" , "Seraphic, cherubic" , "I glance (anag.)" , "in the manner of Gabriel?" .)