Feel a bit silly posting this, but I just can't parse this one!
14A Leader needing attention, in bad shape and beginning to
despair. (9),
I think the answer is "Spearhead" - anagram of "shape" + initial "d"
of "despair", leaving the 3 letters R ,E, A. I expected a synonym
for "attention" - Care, maybe? What am I missing? ( Apart from
a C !!)