Across:
1 Covers-up direct order (cover-up ‘direct order’ = RECTOR) from minister (RECTOR),
4 Analyse the vulnerable (PSYCH OUT), soft (soft/piano = P-) youths (youths = - SY-H OUT) training (= anagram indicator) around college (-C-) (PSYCH OUT),
9 Sent an (sent an = NANTES) amendment (= anagram indicator) from French city (NANTES),
10 There’s no solace in crocodile tears (there’s no ‘solace’ in ‘crocodile tears’ = croditer = DIRECTOR) from board member (DIRECTOR),
12 Was responsible for the Molotov cocktail (MADE A BOMB) and got very rich (MADE A BOMB),
13 Writing (from the 3Rs = -R-) in epic (epic = P-ICE) novel (= anagram indicator) (PRICE) is similar to The Bill (PRICE similar to the bill),
14 Important person (LEADING LIGHT) in The Magi followed it (LEADING LIGHT),
18 Union members (The Union = the STATES /US States of America) behind (= positional indicator) football team (UNITED) (UNITED STATES) in America (UNITED STATES),
21 Interpol dismiss tip (‘Interpol’ dismiss ‘tip’ = nerol = LONER) from antisocial type (LONER),
22 Run repeat (run repeat = ENRAPTURE) training (= anagram indicator) to do one’s heart good (ENRAPTURE),
24 Fight (B-OX) over state (= homophone indicator) rule (rule = “reign” = “rain” = -RAIN-) by blockhead (‘block’ head = -B-) (BRAINBOX) or clever clogs (BRAINBOX),
25 Most of (n) the excitement (‘fun’ without ‘n’ = FU-) with new (= anagram indicator) guns (guns = -NGUS) (FUNGUS) in Portobello, for example (Portobello mushroom = FUNGUS),
26 Hearing (S-ENSE) covers up marketing ploy (unique selling point = -USP-) (SUSPENSE) – it leads to nervous uncertainty (SUSPENSE),
27 Decorative mask (VENEER) for disguise? (VENEER).
Down:
1 Sounds like something one could do on Christmas Day for Goal (RUN A MILE for Goal Charity on Christmas Day/the Goal Mile) to casually avoid it (RUN A MILE),
2 Living in Halifax (CANADIAN), Diana can (Diana can = CANADIAN) adapt (= anagram indicator),
3 Must get out of Mousetrap (take ‘must’ out of ‘Mousetrap’ = oerap = OPERA) and Madame Butterfly (Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly = OPERA),
5 Despatch (SHIP-) something from site (-BUILDERS) (SHIPBUILDERS) to Noah’s family (SHIPBUILDERS),
6 It’s shameful, in a manner of speaking (CHEAP SHOT), offering cut-price spirit (CHEAP SHOT),
7 One of those from dress shop (OUTFIT) is not in (is OUT-) Trim (-FIT) (OUTFIT),
8 Mark (mark = TARGET) consumed by Gibraltar getaway (consumed by ‘ Gibraltar getaway’ = TARGET),
11 Overlook (FORGET-) males (men = -ME-N-), mostly over the top (mostly ‘OTT’ = -OT-), with extreme suits (extreme ‘suits’ = -S) (FORGET-ME-NOTS) and memorable blue buttonholes? (FORGET-ME-NOTS),
15 Lack of intelligence about (IGNORANCE) one caring (one caring = IGNORANCE) criminal (= anagram indicator),
16 Jockey (STRUGGLE) and horse (-GG-) in bizarre (= anagram indicator) result (result = STRU-LE) (STRUGGLE),
17 Fool (ASS-) showing off (= anagram indicator) roses (roses = -ESSOR) (ASSESSOR) in The Examiner (ASSESSOR),
19 Classy types showing the worlds (GLOBES) of rounded earthy models (GLOBES),
20 Turns up (= reversal indicator), one of the Children of Lir (Children of Lir were turned into swans = swan = -N-AWS) concealed link (-L-) to one (I-) (IN-LAWS) of those from the wife’s side (IN-LAWS),
23 One of the cutbacks (PRUNE) in Trim? (trim = PRUNE).