Got a new fixed term contract

[square189]

Hello,

I am currently on a Tier2 visa working for my company, and I got a new offer from another employer who is willing to sponsor me as well. It is a contract for three years. The employment contract will finish in february 2019. I have now been on Tier2 for three years with my current employer. Hence, I am eligible to apply for ILR in february 2018.

Now, if I accept this new employment contract (which ends in february 2019), will I be able to apply for ILR in feb2018? One of the requirements on the ILR site, is "your employer (sponsor) still needs you for your job".
1) Will I be eligible to apply for ILR in february 2018 if I accepted this contract (which ends in feb2019)?
2) Can I apply for ILR any time between february 2018 and february 2019?
3) What do I need to get from my new employer (in case I accept their offer) for my ILR? Are they expected to pay any fee? or support me with any documents for my ILR application?

Your help is truly appreciated. Thank you.

[square189]

4) I have read in this link http://goo.gl/jM1ZnC that a permanent position is better than a fixed term contract for the ILR application. Is this still correct? Thank you.

[Wanderer]

What do you mean by contract? As in non-perm job/IT Contracting per se?

[square189]

Yes, a non-permanent job that ends in Feb2019.

[square189]

Please help, thanks.