Overhead Reduction by Schadenfreude

This was a puzzle with a cryptic preamble and an amusing PDM. The first task was to solve the clues and fill the Carte Blanche grid. At that point the solver had to deduce where the omitted grid entry would have been. Cutting the grid vertically down the centre with the suggested scissors and inserting an extra piece of paper allowed the entry THE MIDDLE MAN, thus creating new across words. These were AREOLATE, POORISH, ESCRIBE, ARABISM, PIRATING, INISLED, DRIFTED, TIERCELS, EVANISH, MANTRAM, ABREAST and ANNICUTS. The editor had cut out the middle man!

Across
A role played by Glasgow's very small spaces (7)
AREOLAE Anagram A ROLE + AE
Unusual back on a seabird (5)
MURRE RUM reversed + RE (on)
Soldiers tucking into Hawaiian dish and special cakes (6)
POORIS OR (ordinary ranks) in POI + S (special)
Knight meeting a priest close to the old stage (6)
NAPRON N (knight) + A PR + ON (close to)
At sea a headless beer is less problematic (6)
EASIER Anagram A (b)EER IS
A writer is leading wife into church (6)
SCRIBE ‘S + RIB (wife) in CE
A plant one harvests in India (6)
ARABIS A + RABIS (harvests)
Talkative sailor on piano (7)
PRATING P (piano) + RATING
Before society line dancing I put on an inch? (6)
INISLE I + Anagram S + LINE
This deal could make delegates sick (5)
EGEST Compound Anagram DELEGATES less DEAL
Tooth receding and worn away (5)
GNAWN WANG reversed + ‘N (and)
Divided force tried to regroup (6)
RIFTED Anagram F (force) + TRIED
Casks extremely close in rows (7)
TIERCES C(los) E in TIERS
See a national issue disappear (6)
VANISH V (see) + A + N (national) + ISH
Authority acquiring translator for sacred text (6)
MANTRA TR in MANA
Basic assumptions made by Poet Laureate's last letter (6)
DONNÉE DONNE (ref. John Donne) + (laureat)E
Mark-up on horse ride in Virginia (6)
UP + LIFT
Rupees found in copper chest (6)
BREAST R in BEAST (policeman)
Is anybody securing constant good fortune? (5)
SONCE C (constant) in ‘S ONE
Charlie's in a new suit changing water flow controllers? (7)
ANICUTS C (Charlie) in A + N + Anagram SUIT
 
Down
A sharp projection in a vertical position (5)
APEAK A PEAK
Disease of Arab entering river meadow (7)
ROARING O (of) AR (Arab) in R (river) ING
Some antelopes succeeded in turning pen over at the front (6)
ORIBIS BIRO (reversed) + I (in) = S (succeeded)
Early morning indulgence primarily enjoyed by one in pool (5)
LIE-IN E(njoyed) + I in LIN
He guarantees operation covered by nurse and sister (7)
ENSURER URE in EN (nurse) + SR (sister)
Money given to outstanding staff (4)
MACE M (money) + ACE
Increase the size of top class (6)
UPRATE UP + RATE
Before golf this man would be getting dressed (5)
ROBIN ROBIN(g) less G (golf)
Part of cell painted green on inmate's first day (7)
ENERGID Anagram GREEN + I D (day)
With added breadth this cloth could be woven by Tibetans (7)
SATINET Anagram TIBETANS less B
Dirty police officer isn't active outside academy (7)
DISTAIN DI (Detective Inspector) + Anagram IS’NT containing A (academy)
This resolved Greek character's constriction (7)
ISTHMUS Anagram THIS + MU’S
All Scots complain about the afternoon injections (7)
ENEMATA A MENE (reversed) containing T’ A (afternoon)
Once superlatively smooth cryptic setters (7)
TERSEST Anagram SETTERS
Freezing cold inside lorry (6)
ARCTIC C in ARTIC
Carnivore with long ears and short neck beside marshy ground (6)
FENNEC FEN (marshy ground) + NEC(k)
Island with lack of forest (5)
IGAPO I (island) + GAP + O’
Sort of clipped Romaic language (5)
MAORI Anagram ROMAI(c)
Occasions for some whiskey with the profligate son (5)
WHETS W (with) + Anagram THE + S (son)
A swimmer swimming for Spain (4)
ORFE Anagram FOR + E (Spain)