The missing clues are..
39. Irishman once rejecting king's local superiority.(4)
40.Ancient grief about sin which may be about a mess of pottage?(7)
29. One making cuts at the ROH-newspaper wants article.(6)
31. Chinese gang lift sweetener in America?(4)
Have started it but am getting nowhere fast because I can't resolve the clashes ( yet ). It's "obviously" ( perhaps too much so! ) something to do with the 4-letter answers slipping round, but what I can't figure out for the moment. Any hints or pointers please. I'll go and have another look at it, pounding headache permitting.
Sounds like you are on the right track novalis. All of the 4-letter entries are real words, though as you say, these are not the clued answers, which are randomly placed around the 'Ring'.
I can't believe that some people are well on the way before I even get the paper on Sunday! Have started, so I'll finish... it makes me feel rather dim though.