Following a poor start to the 2019–20 season in which Milton Keynes Dons achieved only one point from a possible 27 - the worst run of results in the club's short history - Tisdale's contract with the club was mutually terminated on 2 November 2019 following a 1–3 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers. The next day it was announced that MK Dons player Russell Martin would take on the managerial role with immediate effect, and later announced his retirement as a player to focus on the role.