Crossword Genius

Weak leader of national board is pitiful (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lamentable

'pitiful' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'weak leader of national board' is the wordplay.
'weak' becomes 'lame' (similar in meaning).
'leader of' indicates taking the first letters.
'board' becomes 'table' (both can mean food).
The initial letter of 'national' is 'n'.
'lame'+'n'+'table'='LAMENTABLE'

'is' is the link.

(Other definitions for lamentable that I've seen before include "Deplorable, regrettable" , "Sorry" , "Awful" , "Pitiful" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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