Across:
1 Nickel-and-dime linkmen missing (‘nickel-and-dime’ ‘linkmen’ missing = ceaddi = CADDIE) with bagman of course (CADDIE),
4 Water cooler (ICE) tap (cold tap = -C-) in spring (skip = PI-KS) switched (= reversal indicator) (ICE PICKS) for those with a mountain to climb (ICE PICKS),
9 In a curious way (NOSILY), is only (is only = NOSILY) showing off (= anagram indicator),
10 One of those doing the scoring (ENGRAVER) determines whose name goes on the cup (ENGRAVER),
12 Be quick (LOOK SHARP) to check out (LOOK) school (S-) instrument (-HARP) (LOOK SHARP),
13 Regret losing one’s head (r) (‘regret’ losing ‘r’ = EGRET) with flighty type (EGRET),
14 Nearly all the characters in 7 down (nearly all of ‘covers’ = COVER) from Rush (CHARGE-) on bender (-S) (COVER CHARGES) collected by those looking after The Doors (COVER CHARGES),
18 Pay Bill (COVER THE COST) to open 14 across (‘cover charges’ = COVER) with article (THE) on damage, so to speak (COST) (COVER THE COST),
21 Man working with Clay (potter) takes head off (p) (‘potter’ without ‘p’ = OTTER) playful swimmer (OTTER),
22 Bad tempered (IRRITABLE) Irish king (Irish ‘king’ = rí = -RI-) involved in awful (= anagram indicator) tribal (tribal = IR-TABL-) dispute at the end (end of ‘dispute’ = -E) (IRRITABLE),
24 Brief (t) Bill (‘edict’ without ‘t’ = -EDIC-) in arranged meeting (date = D-ATE) (DEDICATE) how to give honour to family member, for example (DEDICATE),
25 No permit in Maritime Alps (no ‘permit’ in ‘Maritime Alps’ = maials = SALAMI) for cured sausage (SALAMI),
26 Backs (SPONSORS) those with their corporate characters all over Jersey (corporate characters/logos all over football jersey = SPONSORS),
27 Some Los Angeles songwriters (some “Los Angeles songwriters” = LESSON) taught in school (LESSON).
Down:
1 A local French cop (flic = -FLIC-) follows (= position indicator) criminal (CON-) for time (-T) (CONFLICT) in The Troubles (CONFLICT),
2 Detective’s (DIs = DIS-) work out (-SOLVE) (DISSOLVE) and wind down (DISSOLVE),
3 Pay off Paisleys (‘pay’ off ‘Paisleys’ = isles = ISLES) in offshore holiday destinations (ISLES),
5 Tricks (CONS-) foreign (= anagram indicator) airports (airports = -PIRATORS) (CONSPIRATORS) and those in a number of schemes (CONSPIRATORS),
6 Soldier on (PERSEVERE) exercises (PE-) with regiment (-R-) is very intense (-SEVERE) (PERSEVERE),
7 Caught (C-) numerous balls pitched by bowlers (-OVERS) (COVERS) all over the pitch when it’s raining (COVERS),
8 Priest (priest = SPRITE) travelling (= anagram indicator) with amazing type who is a bit of a legend (SPRITE),
11 Capital (capital/money = CASH) Records (registers) is short? (s) (‘registers’ without ‘s’ = REGISTER) (CASH REGISTER) – what’s in store for those who demand change perhaps? (CASH REGISTER),
15 For those hitting the road with The Gladstones, for example (ROOFRACKS hold Gladstone cases), it’s on the house (ROOF-) for those who can hold their drink (-RACKS can hold wine/drinks) (ROOFRACKS),
16 Head (TOP) Brother (BR-) is foolish (-ASS) (TOP BRASS) to those in authority (TOP BRASS),
17 He ain’t an (he aint an = ATHENIAN) unreliable (= anagram indicator) type living in Greece (ATHENIAN),
19 The Mob’s (HORDES) primary hitman (primary ‘hitman’ = H-) takes order (order) to clip (r) (‘order’ without ‘r’ = -ORDE-) Sicilian leader (‘Sicilian’ leader = -S) (HORDES),
20 Where one may paint a picture (STUDIO) of where someone is living (STUDIO),
23 Characters in Cosa Nostra developed (characters in ‘Cosa Nostra developed’ = TRADE) a line of work (TRADE).