To play devils advocate:
Before I get started, this is probably more an observation on the way we handle our youth player in general rather than Harper.
There are complaints from the fanbase over the perceived attitude of Harper, Leko and sometime Field. I don't recall seeing any over Edwards. At times have felt a certain degree of sympathy for these players in the way the club have handled them.
Instead of putting faith in them, the club bought in loan rangers or old-timers on short-term contracts. I'll say that Barnes, Gayle, Holgate and Johansen were worth it. But if you're a youngster on the fringes of the squad, I can imagine seeing Tyrone Mears or Wes Hoolahan or even Jacob Murphy and Tosin sat on the bench or getting minutes on the pitch instead of you must be disheartening. And then when things go wrong they're expected to spring on that pitch and give it their all? I know an argument will be about the money they are on, but all the money in the world won't shift a feeling of "f*cks sake, what is the bloody point" that I imagine is running through these kids heads at those points.
I think the club have, at stages, failed these young players and could have handled them an awul lot better and if I were in their position, I would certainly be looking at options presented to me.