I think it's just the press and the fans who are in the dark. The players *I think* would obviously be filled in on the situation as it relates to them.
It is an odd strategy for sure. I'm not sure what is gained by withholding this information from the public during the season. I'm sure it makes sense to them. But it does date back to Bez's first real major decision here - Selling Doneil before the start of the 2014 season and not telling anyone outside the club about it until the season was over. It's continued every year since.
I think Vanney, Bez and Manning are all very much on the same page in terms of how they do business. They're all very discrete, very composed. I can't imagine Vanney minding very much at all.