Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has admitted that it is important he works closely with head coach Lovie Smith during their first off-season together.

Both men were recently appointed to their respective posts and Licht said that the key thing to begin their relationship is to make them a partnership.

"Every place that I've worked, especially successful teams in those eras, the GM and the head coach have to work together," Licht told the club's official website. "It's a partnership, and at the end of the day it doesn't matter if you're Ron Wolf, Bill Polian or Jason Licht – our job is to serve the coach.

"He's got to tell us what kind of players he wants, and we've got to bring the players. My staff and I [have to bring] the right fits. Just like I think I'm a great fit for this family, for this coach, we've got to get the right fits on the field, otherwise it just doesn't work. It's going to be a partnership."

The Buccaneers finished bottom of the NFC South with a 4-12 record.